Gas-engine.



H. 7K. HOLSMAN.

GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED rEB.2a, 1901. RENEWED APR. 19, 1909.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. K. HOLSM'AN.

GAS ENGINE.

nrmoynon nun mums, 1907. RENEWED APR. 19, 1909.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. K. HOLSMAN.

GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION IILED Emma, 1907. RENEWED APR. 19, 1909.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3 QM Nm 465 726596 66 WM L Law/m H. K. HOLSMAN.

GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION IILBD 911x23, 1907. nmwnwnn APR. 19,1909.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' (Lfdrzasaea: I

H. K. HOLSMAN,

GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED TEE-23, 1907. RENEWED APR. 19, 1909. 980,263. Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

I 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5. fi (1 VII/ll/l/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY K. HOLSMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GAS-ENGINE.

Specification or Letters Patent.

Application filed February 23. 1807, Serial No. 358,818. Renewed April 19, 1909. Serial No. 490,964.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hnxur K. Honsius,

a citizen of the United States, and a residentit is to be employed, and finally, in the claims, oint out'the elements and combinations of elements which I consider to be novel.

To illustrate my invention, I annexhercto five sheets of drawings, in which the same reference characters are used to designate identical parts in all the figures, of which,-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a fourcylinder engine containing my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof, on the line A--A of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through one hal 0f the completeengine illustrated in Fig. 1, in section on the line ,B,-B of Fig. 2; Fi 4 is a vertical transverse section on the -ine CC of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a similar view, in section on the line-DD of Fig. 3; Fig.

' (i is a detail in section on the line E-E of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a detail in section on the line F-F of Fig. 6; Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are somewhat diagrammatic views showing the relationship of the operating connections in three ditl'erent positions; and Fig. 11 is a side elevation, and Fig. '12 a top plan view. of the member secured to the driving shaft and carrying the eccentric pins.

As indicated in Fig. 1, I preferably employ my invention in connection with an engine of the four-cylinder opposed type, but it will be obvious that it could be employed, although perhaps less advantageously, in connection with a fewer number of cylinders. The pair of opposed cylinders are preferably constructed of a sing e sleeve 20, which, as best shown in Fig. 5, has the interrupted threads 21 formed on the outer surfaces of its ends, that byforming the similar interrupted threads 23 on the interior of the heads 22, the heads can be quickly and accurately brought into )osition so that. the chambers 24 for the exliaust valve 25 can be readily and accurately brought opposite to the bearings 26 formed in or secured to the cylinder '20 in assembling the parts. The cylinder has the recess '27 on one side and 28 on the other side for the passage of the shaft 29, which is journalcd in suitable bearings 30 and 31, respectively, associated with saidapertures. The shaft is provided with one or more fly wheels at its ends, as seen in Fig. 1, to operate the )istons by its momentum on other than the explosion strokes, as is customary in gas engines. The cylinder is preferably provided with the interiorly-tln'eaded bosses 32 and 33, so that the packing 34 can be confined b the nuts so as to make the cylinder su stantially air-tight. The to s are closed by the plates 36, which have t e inlet )ipcs 37 let into them. The ends are provi ed with the per-, forated bosses 38, in which the spark plugs 39 are placed when the parts are assembled. Each cylinder is preferably provided with the opposed pistons 40, which are connected by one or more webs 41, and are provided with inlet apertures 42, which are normally closed by inlet valves43, which are shown as of the mushroom variety, and have their stems sliding in the bearing sleeve 44 suitably supported across the aperture 4 2. The valve is held normally closed by means of a spring 45, which passes through an 11 crture in the stem of the valve, across the a ub ment 46 projecting from the interior of the piston head and to the bolt 47 secured in the piston, which passes through an a erture in .the spring, so that by adjusting t e nut 48 thereon, the tension of the valve 43 can be regulated so as to open at the proper degree of exhaustion. The web or webs 41 are provided with the recess 49 therein to permit the entrance of the spring and the operation of the valve. The exhaust valve 25 is held normally closed by the spring 50. one end of which cooperates with the abutment 51 on the exhaust valve-casing 34, while the other end coiiperates with the pin or abutment 52 associated with the end of the valve stem. The valve is o ened against the tension of the spring at he pro or interval by means of the cam 53 secured on the shaft '29 coopcrating with the slide 54 reciprocating in the bearing 26, and having its end'contacting with the end of the valve stem, I preferabl 1 provide the anti-friction roller 55 in the en of the slide54 adjacent the cam, and as the slides are in the same plane, the'cams are preferably offset, as shown, and the rollers correspondingly arranged. As seen in Fig. 6, the cams 53 for one cylinder are setat an angular distance of ninety degrees apart, and the cams for the other cylinder will be correspondingly set at one hundred and .eighty degrees from these cams and at desired. As isbest shown in Figs. 2, 3, and

8 to 12, the webs 41 are each provided with the bearing surfaces or tracks 56 which are preferably formed by'flanges projecting on either side of the two webs, although it will be understood that a single web might be employed with the; flanges, one projecting from each side thereof. Thesesurfaces 56 are of thesomewhat peculiar shape shown, being substantially that of an isosceles triangle with the equal sides 57 and 58, and

with the longer third side 60, all three sides being curved, and the apex being formed by the short substantially semicircular recess 61,'which is in fact a portion of a transverse groove, as the mechanism for transforming the motions in fact consist substantially of a combined cam and transverse groove member cooperating with eccentric pins or members carried by the shaft 29. The bearing surfaces 56 on the two webs 41 are on the opposite sides of the single web, if one should be employed, and set at an angle of one hundred and eighty degrees from each other, andthe shaft'29 has secured thereon the pin bearing element, which, as

"shown in Figs. 11 andv l2,preferably consists of the sleeve 62--having the central disk 63, which. extends between the webs 41 and the arms 64 and 65, which are set at right angles to each other, and which extend on the outside of the webs 41. The ends of the arms are connected with the disk 63 by the pins 66 and 67, and the ends of the arms 64 are connected with the disks 63 by the and 69, all these pins preferably taking the form. of anti-friction rollers which are mounted in their supporting arm and disk by vmeans of the ball-bearings 70, as best shown in Fig. 3.

In the diagrammatic views constituting Figs. 8, 9 and 10, in order to render the oppins 68 eration of the partsa little more apparent, I have considered the. arms 65 nearest the observer as removed, but have indicated its position by dotted lines, but its associated pins 66 and 67 are in position. In Fig. 8, the reciprocating-member is shown as at its extreme left-hand position, and ready to'move to the right. In. this position, the pin 66 has not yet come inengagement with its cooperating wall of the transverse groove 61, but the pin 68 is just being engaged by the cam surface of the side 58 cotiperating therewith, so that as the reciprocating member is moved ,to the right, the pin 68 will be camm'ed or wedged up so as to cause the shaft to rotate in the direction of the arrow. After it has moved upward a little farther, and notably to the position shown in Fig. 9, the pin 66 is engaged by its groove 61,

. and the movement for substantially the next forty-five degrees is effected by this action, as well as the cam action of the side 58 on the pines. This bringsus to the position of Fig. 10, where the rec procating part has reached the limitof its movement. to the right, and is ready to return tojthe left, and in this position of the parts, the pin 66 is just ready to be engaged by the side" 58 associated therewith, to cam or drive it through an angle of ninety degrees, and

during the latter portion ,of which movement, this action is supplemented by the pin 69 being. engaged by the groove 61. The movement through this second quadrant is efi'ected in the same manner as through the first quadrant, but by different parts, and so on, throughout the entire rotation of the shaft, which is effected by two complete reciprocations of the 'iston heads. The came action, of course, Wlll occurif the shaft 29 be driven, as theaction of the pins 66, 67, 68 and 69 1 5011 the surfaces57 and 58 and IOU the ends of the grooves 61 will serve to drive the reciprocating element back and forth, and the same general action will, of course occur if the shaft 29 be held from movement,

and the reciprocations of the pistons cause the cylinders to be rotated about the shaft as a center, and it will be understood that I desire to cover the structure in whatever way it be operated.

I By the novel movement which I have herein shown, it will be perfectly apparent that I have produced a simple mechanism for transforming the two complete reciprocations ofthe piston heads into one single rotation of the engine shaft. thus enabling me to mount the cams directly on the shaft, dispensing wit-h the gearing. This construction also gives me the further adi vantage of taking up much less room along the length of the pistons than, is the case with the ordinary crank and pin connection. It will be noted that the exhaust valve seat and casing is carried directly by the head of the cylinder, and also that the inlet valve is carried directly by the piston head. In the case of the latter, in order to conveniently assemble the parts, I form the bearing 44 for the valve stem 72 with the recess 7 3 cut in one or both sides so that by flattening the stem 72 at 74, I can conveniently insert the valve in place even if the flange 75 thereon is integral with the valve stem, and once it is inserted, the sprin 45 passing through the stem holds the va ve in place. It will be understood that the design and exact. location of the spring might be changed. It will also be understood that the curved end of the transverse groove 61, and the portion 60 of the track 56, have practically no action in the conversion of the motion, and might as well, except for appearance and design, be omitted.

It will be noted that the mixture inlet pipes 37 admit the vapor into the crank-case portion of the engine which connects the cylinder portions proper, and that while the crank case has the two sides thereof formed by the pistons movable, yet the pistons move so that the volume of the crank case is always uniform. This is an important feature because it is essential that there should be no change in the volume of the crank case, as the charge is drawn therefrom by suction through the valves 43 into the cylinders proper, and the uniform volume of the crank case is essential'to the success of this mode of operation. It also offers an advantage in that the lubricating oil may be mixed with the gasolene and deposited on the interior of the cylinder, thoroughly lubricating it without the necessity of employing any forcefeed lubricator.

While I have shown and described a novel mechanical movement, cylinder construction and valve piston, in connection with my improved transmission mechanism for an explosion engine, I do not herein claim ,the same, but reserve the subject-matter for divisional applications.

While I have herein shown and described a novel construction in which a plurality of cylinders is employed, together with a crank case connecting the cylinders, and .pistons reciprocating in said cylinders and forming movable sides of the crank case. the pistons moving so that the volume of the crank case is always uniform, together with inlet valves in the pistons and means for admitting fuel to the crank chamber, I do not herein claim said novel combination, as it is made a part of my application No. 470,376, filed January \Vhile I have shown and described my invention as embodied in the form which I at present consider best adapted to carry out its purposes, it will be understood that it is capable of modifications, and that I do not desire to be limited in the interpretation of the following claims, except as may be necessitated by the state of the prior art. What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is 1. In an engine, the combination with a cylinder, of the piston therein adapted to be moved in one direction by an explosion, of means for moving the piston in the other direction, a shaft extending transversely of the piston, and connections between the piston and the shaft for rotating the latter once for each two reciprocations of the former, consisting of the combined cam and transverse groove members carried by the piston, and the eccentric members carried by the shaft. I

'2. In an engine, the combination with a cylinder, of the piston therein adapted to .be moved in one direction by an explosion,

the four eccentric members carried by the shaft and arranged at angular distances of ninety degrees from each other.

3. In an engine, the combination with a cylinder, of the piston therein adapted to be moved in one direction by an explosion, of means for moving the piston in the other direction, a shaft extending transversely of the piston, and connections between the piston and the shaft for rotating the latter once for each two reciprocations of the former, consisting of the web carried by the piston containing the bearing surfaces having the general outline of isosceles triangles with the short transverse grooves at their apexes, and the member carried by the shaft having the four eccentric members, two for each bearing surface, diametrically opposite each other and at an angle of ninety degrees to the pins cooperating with the opposed surface.

4. In an engine, the combination with a cylinder, of the piston therein adapted to be moved in one direction by an explosion,

of means for moving the piston in the other direction, a shaft extending transversely of the plston, and connections between the piston and the shaft for rotating the latter the ends of the arms andcodperating with the bearing surfaces.

5. In an engine, the combination with the cylinder having ignition means at' each end, of the two pistons adapted to reciprocate therein, a web between the piston heads, a shaft extending through the web trans versely of the piston, and connections between the piston and the shaft for rotating the latter once for each two reciprocations of the former, consisting of the combined cam and transverse groove members car ried by the web, and the eccentric members carried by the shaft.

6, In an engine, the combination with the cylinder having ignition means at each end, of the two pistons adapted to reciprocate therein, a web between the iston heads, a shaft extending .through tie web' transversely of the piston, andconnections between thepiston and the shaft for rotating the latter once for each two reciprocations of the former, consisting of the pair of com bined cam and transverse groove members arranged at an angle of one hundred and eighty degrees to each other upon the web, and the four eccentric members carried by the shaft and arranged .at an angular distance of ninety degrees from each other.

.7. In anengine, the combination with the cylinder having ignition means at each end, of the two pistons adapted to reciprocate therein, a web between. the piston heads, a shaft extending through the web transversely of the piston, and connections between the piston and the shaft for rotating thev latter once for each two reciprocations of the former, consisting of the pair of bearing surfaces carried by the web and each havingthe general outline of an isosceles triangle with the short transverse groove at its apex, and the shaft having the member carrying the four eccentric pins, two

for each bearing surface diametrically oppositeeach other and at an angle of ninety degrees to the pins cotiperating with the opposed surface.

8. In an engine, the combination with the cylinder having the ignition means at each end, of the double piston to reciprocate therein, a pair of webs between the piston heads, a shaft extending through the webs transversely of the pistons, and connections between the pistons and the shaft for rotating the latter once for each two reciprocations of the former, consistin of the two combined cam and groove mem ers, one carried'by each web and having the bearing surface of the general outline of an isosceles triangle withithe short transverse groove ,at its apex, and the eccentric pin-carryingmember carried by the" shaft, having the plate between the websand the crossed-arms outside of the webs, and the pins connectin the plate and the ends of the arms.

9. In an engine, the combination with a pair of parallel cylinders, each provided with the ignition means at each end, of the two pistons adapted to reciprocate in each cylinder, a web between each pair of pistons, a shaft extending through the webs transversely of the pistons, valves'for each of said cylinders, cam mechanism carried by the shaft for actuating the valves so as to secure an explosion at each quarter revolution of the shaft, and connections between the piston and the shaft for rotating the lat ter once for each two reciprocations of the former, consisting of the combined cam and transverse groove members carried by the piston, and eccentric members carried by the shaft.

10. In an engine, the combination with a pair of parallel cylinders each provided with the lgnition means at each end, of the two pistons adapted to reciprocate in each cylinder, at web between each pair of pistons, a shaft extending through the webs transversely of the pistons, valves for each of said cylinders, cam mechanism carried by the shaft for actuating the valves so as to secure an explosion at each quarter revolution of the shaft, and connections between the piston and the shaft for rotating the latter once for each two reciprocations of the former, consisting of the two pairs of combined cam and transverse groove mem- .bers arranged at an angle of one hundred and eighty degrees to each other and carried by the piston, and the eight eccentric members carried by the shaft and adapted to cooperatewith the cam and groove members, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. In an engine, the combination with a pair of parallel cylinders each provided with the ignition means at each end, of the two pistons adapted to reciprocate in each cylinder, a web between each pair of pistons, a shaft extending through the webstransversely of the pistons, valves for each of said cylinders, cam mechanism carried by the shaft for actuating the valves so as to secure an explosion at eachquarter revolution of theshaft, and connections between the piston and the shaft for rotating the lat teronce for each two reciprocations of the former, consisting of a web connecting each pair of pistons and containing the bearing surfaces having the general outline of an isosceles triangle with the short transverse groove at itsapex, andthe member carried by .the shaft having theyfour eccentric pins for each cylinder. two for each bearinglsur face diametrically opposite to each other and at anangle of ninetydegrees to the-pins coiiperating with the opposedsurface;

12. In an engine,the combination with a pairv'of parallel cylinders each provided with the ignition means at each end, of the two pistons adapted to reciprocate in each cylinder, a web between each pair of pistons, a shaft extending through the webs transversely of the pistons, valves for each of said cylinders, cam mechanism carried by the shaft for actuating the valves so as to secure an explosion at each quarter revolution of the shaft, and connections between the piston and the shaft for rotating the latter once for each two reciprocations of the former, consisting of the pair of webs connecting each pair of pistons and containing the bearing surfaces, each having the general outline of an isosceles triangle with the short transverse groove at its apex, and the shaft having the pair of plates between the webs, the two pairs of crossed arms outside of the webs, and the eight pins connecting the ends of the arms with their associated plates.

In witness where0f, I have hereunto set my hand and aflixed my seal, this 20th day of February, A. D. 1907.

HENRY K. HOLSMAN. 1,. 8;

Witnesses:

J 01m H. MGELROY, M. G. REEDER. 

